Tony Davis' Road to the Toronto Blue Jays Goes Through Dunedin

The signing of a left-handed specialist doesn’t get much press in the grand scheme of things, but this type of transaction is what every team needs to become successful.

Drafted in the 12th round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft from the University of Florida by the Minnesota Twins, Davis is no stranger to the minors after appearing in more than 110 games. He made it up to Double-A with the Twins in 2012 but suffered a setback that resulted in a stint with the Independent Quebec Capitales of the Can-Am League.

A stellar season in Canada caught the eye of the Toronto Blue Jays, which offered him a minor league deal. Davis, who said he is honoured to wear the Blue Jays uniform, will give it his all, no doubt about it.

Now that spring training is done, I followed up on his progress in Dunedin, and not surprisingly, Davis is again doing what he does best: getting people out.

Still early in the season, Davis is tied for second on the team in appearances with three, sports a 2.25 ERA and has struck out eight and walked only one. Opponents are batting a collective .200 against him, and lefties are hitting a paltry .167.

If Davis can sustain this excellence, there is no telling where he could end up at the end of the season. Coming from the left side is a hot commodity in this game, and a consistent left-hander could have a lot of success waiting for him.

Take Aaron Loup, for example. Loup spent four years in the Jays’ minor league system before getting called up last year. And without a doubt, he’s made his presence felt. Lefties are hitting .215 against him, while he has walked only two batters and struck out 11 in 35 games.

If Davis continues to improve, we might see him in a Blue Jays uniform one day. Could you imagine two lefties who drop down from the side to mow down the opposition? Talk about a devastating combination.